Wallace Inn

Mountainside Inn near Historic Downtown and Rocky Mountain Skiing

Situated in the Rocky Mountains of northern Idaho, Lookout Pass ski area gets an average of 400 inches of light, powdery snow each year. This makes for great skiing and snowboarding conditions on each of the resort’s 34 runs, which range in difficulty from beginner- to expert-level. There are also three snowboarding terrain parks, including a beginners’ park outfitted with rails and boxes that are easy to practice on. The Idaho side of Lookout Pass is just a 15-minute drive from Wallace Inn; the two-day Getaways package includes two all-day ski-lift passes.

Wallace Inn is nestled in the foothills of the Bitterroot Mountain range near the historic downtown district, and there are no shortage of stunning views. There are floor-to-ceiling windows in its indoor pool area, and each of the inn’s 59 rooms look out to the scenery.

You can also gaze at the mountains while sitting in a booth at the hotel’s restaurant Trailside Café, which serves farm-fresh fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For drinks, head to the full bar area at the onsite lounge, half a mile up the road to Wallace Brewing, or about five miles to the City Limits Pub.

Wallace, Idaho: Historic Mining Town at the Foot of the Bitterroot Mountains

The old mining town of Wallace has survived two major fires: The first, in 1890, wiped out most of the wooden buildings downtown, prompting residents to rebuild with brick, stone, and masonry foundations that have survived to today. The layouts range in style from art deco to Victorian; one of them was a brothel that didn’t close its doors until 1988. It’s this assortment of architectural styles that landed Wallace on the National Register of Historic Places, the last whole town to earn this distinction.

The northern Idaho town has another, more surprising distinction: it’s the location of the center of the universe. You might miss it if you aren’t looking, though—the spot is marked by an embossed seal that looks like a manhole cover. It may not literally be the center of the universe, but as a mayor once declared, if it can’t be disproven, it must be true.